First, we shouldn’t be surprised that a batter from Afghanistan is able to achieve such heights. Zadran is a fast-emerging talent who, without uniform or name, might easily present as an Indian player with a significant future. His fundamentals are excellent, and more importantly, he knows when and how to deploy them. Second, it’s easy in the current climate to discount numbers that used to represent a team score as trivial. These are indeed ‘Daddy Hundreds’ as Graham Gooch preferred to call them. And to think there are 40 scores of equal to or more is just nuts.

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It may be wise to look at where it all began. Seriously, the progression of output from unassuming beginnings is remarkable. But, where did it start?

John Edrich (1937-2020) was one of English cricket's most accomplished batsmen. His durable career spanned nearly two decades. After debuting for Surrey in 1958, he went on to play 77 Test matches for England. However, his most notable contribution to limited-overs cricket was scoring the first ODI half-century in the inaugural ODI against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1971. Edrich initiated the list with a patient 82 (no ball count available)—four boundaries, and absolutely no sixes. Eighteen months later, teammate Dennis Amiss would be the first to record a century, displacing Edrich with a carefully crafted 103 (nine boundaries)—Old Trafford was the venue and Australia again the opposition.

I must mention David 'Bumble' Lloyd, who temporarily held the mantle of top dog between Amiss and the subsequent explosion of ODI batting. Bumble carried his bat for 116* against Pakistan at Trent Bridge (nine fours, and wait for it, a solitary six. I would bet Bumble's retirement money this was a spin-related maximum.) I say that with confidence, being a constant close spectator to his son, Graham, who plundered spin like it was going out of style. I recall Graham making his ODI debut at Trent Bridge and being unable to get past the car park attendant. The over-officious yellow coat refused entry to the debutant on the premise that an England cricketer shouldn't be driving a Ford Capri! Geoff didn't care for sponsored cars.

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, cricket's premier international competition, has grown from its humble 1975 debut in England into one of the sport's most-watched events. However, it was here that we started to see higher individual scores appear. The 60-over an innings window allowed more scope for batters from the middle order to flourish and the more conservative top order to establish and thrive longer.

New Zealand's unorthodox but hugely effective opener, Glenn Turner, was next to supplant himself at the top of the ladder, making 171 not out against East Africa at Edgbaston—he was familiar with the West Midlands, making countless hundreds for near neighbours, Worcestershire.

Eleven days hence, India's Kapil Dev blasted 175 not out against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells, extricating his side from all sorts of trouble. Being nine at the time and confined to a summer of rest after a kidney operation, I remember fondly Kapil wielding his Slazenger (shorn shoulders—can't remember the name) to maximum effect. Of course, I wished I had one!

Kapil registered 16 boundaries and six maximums, and there it was, the pivotal shift from batters respecting boundary fielders to simply clearing them with little thought of not. One of the highlights of my career was playing in a Lancashire v Rest of the World game at Old Trafford in the late eighties. Kapil swung the ball around like a magician; now you see it, now you don’t—a fantastic cricketer.

The next incumbent needs no introduction. In May of 1984, Vivian Richards dismantled England for 189 not out at Old Trafford. Again, his side was in all sorts of early trouble. David Shepherd, the umpire, raised a white handkerchief such was the ferocity of Richards’ stroke play. That day was the birth of the Duncan Fearnley Magnum—all chambers loaded.

Naturally, the ‘little master’ Sachin Tendulkar bridged the next gap. Tendulkar had previously made 175 and 186 not out, but no double hundred. He wasn’t to be denied, a neat 200 not out against South Africa in the 2010 World Cup ticked perhaps the final multiple hundred box—or will someone get to 300? I remember thinking how many double hundreds we might see at the time. That number currently stands at eleven, and India’s Rohit Sharma has three! (264, 209, and 208*)

Of the eleven, Glenn Maxwell's 201 not out against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup might be the most extraordinary. The headline I recall was Glenn Maxwell's Heroic Double Century: A Cricket Miracle. Indeed, it is a cricket miracle.

Battling cramps, a moving ball and mounting pressure, Maxwell guided Australia to an improbable victory after they had collapsed to 7-91 chasing 292, which elevated Australia into the semi-finals against South Africa and cemented Maxwell's place in World Cup folklore, as Australia went on to win the 2023 World Cup. Maxwell recorded 21 boundaries and ten sixes—that’s close to 75% in boundaries!

So, where to go next? Of the twelve double-ton brigade, there are seven batters from India—Sharma has three, Virender Sehwag, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, and Tendulkar. West Indian, Chris Gayle. New Zealand’s Martin Guptill. Pathum Nissanka from Sri Lanka and Maxwell round out the crew. South Africa’s highest entry is Gary Kirsten (188*). Pakistan has two batters in the 190s: Saeed Anwar and Fakhar Zaman. And England’s top guy is Ben Stokes (182) at 26th.

How times and methods change.

Zadran’s ‘Daddy Hundred’ helped his team to a squeaky eight-run victory over a disappointing England. Joe Root (120 from 111 balls) fought valiantly; again, though, there was a lack of substantial help, with the next highest score being 38. England are now without a win in their last six games, and Afghanistan have a realistic chance of making the last four.

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Ben Duckett won the game’s top-scorer wager with an accomplished 165, the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history, contributing close to half of England’s runs. While he remains one of the most infuriating players in world cricket, Duckett must now be recognised as one of England’s best multi-format batters. Joe Root supported with 68 (78 balls) in a 158-run partnership, while the rest withered on the vine, as is their tendency.

In 15 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, England have only produced four individual centuries. Duckett has half of them. If you believe the team’s commentary, this makes perfect sense, as they really don’t care if they lose—they are positive the rest of us just don’t get it. To be honest, they seem more invested in their golf handicaps than their win-loss record.

For some perspective, yesterday Virat Kohli posted his 51st ODI century, a remarkable achievement that dwarfs England’s entire team tally. For additional context: Joe Root, England’s most consistent batter, has 16 ODI centuries, while their most inconsistent, Liam Livingstone, has just one.

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Australia’s Josh Inglis, the game’s other centurion and a Johnny-come-lately to the green and gold after spending the early part of his life growing up in Leeds, equaled and then surpassed Duckett’s earlier efforts with a runaway 120 not out from just 86 balls.

Unlike Duckett, Inglis received consistent support from his teammates. Matt Short (63 from 66) and Marnus Labuschagne (47 from 45) combined for a 95-run partnership. Then, Alex Carey (69 from 63) helped Inglis add 146 for the fifth wicket, and Glenn Maxwell (32* from 15) finished the job, adding an unbroken 74-run partnership. Only Travis Head and Steve Smith missed out.

Since July 2023, when Lord’s erupted following an after-the-fact stumping, things have not gone well for England in their match-ups with the Aussies. Some argue that Australia was the instigator, but it was England who started slinging the mud first, and in light of recent results, they are a long way from finishing the exchange.

The defeat handed England its 17th loss in 24 ODIs, including all of the last five.

Josh Inglis’s maiden ODI century stole the headlines, and rightly so—such was the quality and precision of his strokeplay. Much has been made of his journey: born in Leeds and raised in Perth. As Gideon Haigh noted, historically Leeds has not been kind to Australia, but now it has gifted them a gem.

Haigh also pointed out that Inglis is only the game’s twenty-sixth player to record hundreds in all three formats. Among the current Australian team, he only has Glenn Maxwell for company—David Warner is the other Australian. It’s reasonable to say there are few you’d miss in a trivia question.

As Inglis secured victory for his adopted country, Mike Atherton was broadcasting. He quipped, “what a fine innings from Josh English.” Atherton himself grew up under a bleak and dull north Manchester landscape.

For those who have labeled Atherton’s humour “bone-dry,” I have to let you in on the best-kept secret going around: Mike Atherton is a funny bugger. He’s cheeky and has a wicked turn of phrase when needed. I’m not sure why he doesn’t use it more.

After asking Steve Smith if Inglis “still had his English passport,” Smith made it clear, replying, “you’ll have to ask him! But he’s not going anywhere.”

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So, where does it all land?

Group A is all but decided, with India and New Zealand both having two wins from two games. England and Australia’s group looks much tighter. Australia and South Africa both have one win from one game played, with England and Afghanistan sitting third and fourth. It feels like there might be some jokers played in the remaining games. Tonight, Australia play South Africa—the winner will go through to the next stage. England will need to beat Afghanistan, and then their fate will depend on tonight’s result. If South Africa lose, England will need to beat them in their last game to qualify.

Nick

Ps. It irks me to say Pom’s—but headlines are just that!

The recent outgoing ICC chair, Greg Barclay, captured it perfectly when he admitted "presiding, if only notionally, over a game that was broken and ungovernable given the way its administration is structured."

Now, please, everyone sees a glaring flaw in cricket's governance, but no one can fix it. Right?

The widely respected author and cricket writer Gideon Haigh has rightfully taken the ICC to task many times, likely with more eloquence than your correspondent here! Haigh remains on the bit and will likely not back down. Still, the ICC remains a members club masquerading as a governing body, which is not unlike the current state of American democracy under Donald Trump.

Like all boy clubs, members' self-interests will always outweigh the protection of the wider game when decisions present themselves. This aligns with their finances being solely dependent on an Indian audience, which affords the BCCI's unbalanced influence over global governance. We know this, but what can be done? Right!

Whats your position on the BCCI’s current influence across the cricket world? Pls leave a comment, it would be great to hear from you

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Oh, back to Mr. Barclay. The reason cited for his departure was his inability to schedule Champions Trophy venues. He later admitted there was so much cricket played that he had lost track of who was playing who and where—does that resonate? During his tenancy, three additional major franchise-based T20 leagues surfaced in the U.S., the UAE, and South Africa, two of which attracted significant Indian investment. The global calendar is splitting at the seams. Of course, Barclay blamed the members' self-interest for the shambles.

Barclay saved some of his most telling shots over the bow for Australia, highlighting their board's position on Afghanistan pointed to double standards. He cited multiple bilateral cancellations but then a willingness to play them in ICC events. "If you want to make a political statement, don't play them in a World Cup. Sure, it might cost you a semi-final place, but principles are principles. It's not about having half a principle."

Mr. Barclay was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and presents at the border as Canadian-New Zealand!

That said. In my view, at the most basic level, cricket is competing in an attention-deficit economy. Over the next three weeks, cricket will offer its middle-tier product, with most games asking for a seven-hour engagement window. What chance do you think? Even the express product is pushing the envelope at three hours. Maybe the only hope is hiding the remote!

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So here we are: Pakistan and Dubai.

If such a thing exists, the tournament will fill a gap between World Cup years and satisfy sponsors' appetites for a significant event. Again, it exemplifies the sport's chaos—from sudden rule changes to venue uncertainties. It seems oddly appropriate that Pakistan hosts this improvised event.

The team’s practice has been shoe-horned into current schedules in an effort to reacquaint with the 50-over game. In the post-Covid world, ODIs are the format teams have to cram the most to remember their playbooks. Many of the formats leading players have already decided that 100 overs is just too much bother. I read this and still find it hard to comprehend, “defending champions Pakistan haven’t played in the tournament for seven and a half years.”

With all that pessimism said!

Despite the tournament's hazy arrangements, the stakes remain high for many teams.

India will seek redemption from their recent T20 final loss, and after missing the Test Championship final, England aims to maintain their white-ball dominance, although this looks on the wane, and South Africa will try to break their white-ball final-losing streak.

Meanwhile, emerging teams like Afghanistan look to establish themselves further, and hosts Pakistan will dream of creating what could be a decade-defining win in front of their home fans. I nearly forgot. There's Australia, which will look like a very different team in terms of bowling. But, as always, we expect them to play well when it matters.

I’m looking forward to following the tournament, albeit from a frigid but picturesque New England. It is worth noting that two of the three closest bottle shops have South Asian owners, and they are always up for a cricket chat! I’ll be back to you soon.

After a productive off-season recruiting push, Demonland was quietly optimistic in 2009/10. The match committee and Michael Sholly, after canvassing the coaching group, landed two prize catches. Pacer, Rob Cassell, returned to Melbourne after several injury interruptions. And batter, Simon Dart, after a decade away from the Albert, was also a returning Demon. Cassell would take the new ball with Doemer, while Dart's return to the middle order promised to bring valuable experience and depth to the batting lineup.

The junior recruiting was equally impressive. Doug Patrick worked tirelessly behind the scenes, scouring both regional and metropolitan areas for emerging talent. Alex Keath, from Shepparton, was a boarder at Melbourne Grammar. An outstanding dual-sport talent, it seemed Keath was destined for the AFL; for now, he was committed to Melbourne and would play games when study and school sport allowed. Patrick had been tracking Keath's progress for years.

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For many coaches pre-season is their winter playground, a time to shine—Christmas come early, complete with new toys and free from office constraints. Elaborate drills, sketched during winter's quiet moments, emerge from desk drawers ready to meet reality. Some make it, others fall off the wagon. Undeterred, coaches rally around the support staff, leaning into the collective strength that a fresh start provides!

The winter of 2009 saw Melbourne Cricket Club's pre-season take on a different energy. In previous years, pre-seasons had followed a predictable pattern—new players finding their feet while veterans managed their workload with practiced efficiency. But after a positive realignment in 2008/09, the time felt right to push harder. As coaches, we approached the preparation with renewed purpose, though mindful of premier cricket's delicate balance between professional expectations and amateur realities.

I recall a Saturday morning at the Albert where we ran an Albert Park Lake lap. The track is roughly 4.7 kilometres in distance on an asphalt surface, and it is popular with recreational runners. The park is also home to Melbourne's Grand Prix. We ran 'Indian file' formation, adding both complexity and fostering team unity. A small-teams strategy session followed the run.

The details of the strategy session are sketchy. In short, we split into five or six groups and assigned a rotation of tasks to be completed. The tasks involved physical activity, team brainstorming, and individual problem solving. Each group had a leader who acted as the spokesman and general front-man. The hour-long session culminated in a group debrief where each team shared their solutions. This was the part that provided the humour.

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During the debrief, I watched Doemer closely. Doemer, the cricketer, holds legend status, while Doemer, the salesman, wasn't far behind. He is one of the very best listeners I have encountered. He's always up for a chat; it's just he doesn't do the chatting, preferring to tease out the information he needs. This method contradicts a salesman's modus operandi, but it's how he operates. Listening is such an undervalued skill. Next time you are with someone you suspect isn't listening, just watch their mind working while you speak—if only more folk could listen to themselves.

And the humour and irony?

In addition to his exemplary listening skills, Doem has an above-average oratory delivery score. I hasten to add that you could liken his vocabulary to the miserly approach that underpins his runs-per-over doctrine. His words, like his bowling, are well-crafted and dependable.

Saying that tongue-in-cheek, it's well-crafted and dependable—sound familiar!

So, when Eiv Bowen, a senior player and leader, thought it best to interject during Doem’s closing remarks, it was both a surprise and hilarious.

I had been zoning out by this stage. While the strategy session appeared to be about team problem-solving, its true purpose was more nuanced—we (the coaches) were trawling for untapped leadership potential. A key component of any coach’s playbook is having reliable eyes on the inside. The best exponents maintain absolute credibility within the playing group while providing coaches with unvarnished insights from the trenches. This discourse is never more valuable than during pre-season when the dynamic between coaches and players can be at its most delicate.

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And that Eiv Bowen interjection.

“Look, boys, what Doem is trying to say is this...lardy-da, lardy-da.”

Eiv launched into a hallucination that would put ChatGPT to shame. The exclamation was not remotely miserly in length. Eiv’s rant further confused the intended message, which, honestly, was more of a smoke-screen than functionary. But, you had to see the look on Doemer’s face; it could have stripped paint!

From that point on, I always felt there was resistance between the two. The lesson of the tale? Try to remain on Doemer’s accepted side!

So the dealing was done, the hand looked semi-stacked. New talent, returning tested players, emerging leaders, with round one around the corner, it was time to play our hand.

"If you're gonna play the game, boy. You gotta learn to play it right.”

Please check back next week…

The season 2008-09 was serviceable for the (Demons) Melbourne Cricket Club. It was a case of new handlers, different methods, and similar outcomes. This after 2007-09 returned a T20 premiership for the outgoing captain/coach, Chris Davies—I’m sure some of the older folk down at Demonland might balk at such a presumption—T20 premierships!

That said, 50-over cricket had always come easily to the Demons, dating back to one of its very best, Dean Jones, and later stars Brad Hodge and Andrew Kent—all batters who thrived in the format. The club’s bowling depth with the white ball was equally impressive: fundamentally sound new ball operators, reliable medium-pacers, and quality spin. Attach dependable fielding and slick running, and you had a pretty robust package. From a coaching perspective, there really wasn’t much to do—wind them up, set them loose, and sit back.

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So it was expected that the Demons would be a force in 2008-09 in the 50-over format with Adam Dale at the helm. Six wins from seven games saw them on top of the ladder. A preliminary final win over Ringwood, where Andrew Kent and Michael Hill both made centuries, led to a final with close rivals, Prahran.

To me, the rivalry felt territorial, with both home grounds land-locked by city activity.

The Albert Ground is one of the most unique cricket grounds in the world. Flanked by St Kilda Road and Queens Way, both busy arteries, with the city skyline rising at its northern end, the ground offers glimpses of Albert Park and Port Phillip Bay from its elevated points. Toorak Park, in contrast, nestles quietly into its commercial and residential surrounds, just a stone's throw from the bustle of Chapel Street. Both are distinctive spaces to play club cricket.

The final, played at the Albert Ground in the shadow of Black Saturday, saw Melbourne triumph in a tight contest. Prahran struggled to 165, with Adam Bull's 51 the standout against Phil Halbish's 4-35. The chase wasn't straightforward—Andrew Kent's composed 52 steadied early nerves, with Halbish's crucial 33 steering Melbourne home despite some late jitters. All-rounder Halbish deserved man-of-the-match honours as the Demons claimed the flag with two wickets in hand.

Phil Halbish had been an integral part of the Demon's makeup, and new captain/coach, Adam Dale, would later reflect: "A fantastic competitor who influenced many games with the ball but also with the bat. His forthright batting in the lower order was hugely effective. A terrific team man with invaluable experience." It was fitting praise from Dale, himself no stranger to match-winning performances.

There’s no doubting 'Big Bish' had been somewhat diffident to some of the changes asked of the group. As the batting coach, I particularly enjoyed his steadfast position on batters. He was sold on the notion that bowlers controlled and won cricket matches—in his view, batters were merely pretenders prone to cracking under pressure. Bish was all 'old school'—respect was to be earned, not given. To this day, he deliberately mangles my nickname, a reminder of the good-natured sparring over the batter-bowler divide. C'mon, Bish, time to let it go.

Club cricket has always been the foundation of the Australian game. Players juggle time and work or study, weekend to weekend. It’s a place where cricketers discover their ceiling or not. Training nights rather than days. Many stop here, sometimes for no reason other than bad fortune or ill-timing. Others prosper and move forward to a first-class career and beyond. The banter remains, though. Phil Halbish would have to tread differently at the next level—he knows that. Despite that, he played for Melbourne with the same desire as he would for Victoria. It’s just he has a day job and perhaps some healthier perspectives on the play/work/life balance. Bridging any skill or standards gap is about consistency, performing under brighter lights, and turning potential into something tangible.

Then Test cricket. I can’t remember the ratio, but teammate David Boon always said that first-class cricket is 70/30, mind over skill. And, Test cricket is 80/20. Highlighting the mental aptitude required to climb the tree. Adam Dale navigated all three—he still has a picture of Sachin on his mantelpiece—it sits right next to a Phil Halbish portrait!

Doem’s journey is not unique, but then it is. North Melbourne to Brisbane club cricket, to Queensland and unprecedented success, then to the baggy green. Oh, then a full circle back to Melbourne! It was a very shrewd appointment—we can come back to that later.

The 2008-09 season closed with contrasting fortunes—a one-day flag and a rain-affected first-round exit in the main competition. Personally, I was finding my feet with the playing group (Bish notwithstanding), while Doemer's influence continued to grow. The younger players were developing, the core group strengthening, and with Melbourne's tireless recruiter, the enigmatic Doug Patrick, already preparing his annual scouting presentation, the foundations for 2009-10 looked promising.

Back soon.

I recently read that Murphy is using a calendar—with January 2025 highlighted. As Australia is set to complete a drive-through two-Test series in Sri Lanka, Murphy will be hoping for better outcomes as Sri Lanka looks to recover from their crushing first Test defeat.

A large part of the visitors’ resounding win can be attributed to Matt Kuhnemann. The left-arm spinner’s performance in Galle was remarkable, especially considering his recent thumb surgery. Just weeks after having two screws inserted in his non-bowling hand, he claimed the impressive match figures of 9-149 (5-63 and 4-86)— relegating Lyon and Murphy to support roles.

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So, where does Todd Murphy stand in relation to Nathan Lyon and possession of the heir apparent mantle?

Well, at the least, Murphy mirrors Lyon in action. Once called right arm off spin—I still see an ageless John Savage floating them down in the Lancashire CCC indoor school! Now, the new world prefers right arm finger spin, allowing room for the unorthodox to operate in this once routinely mundane space. You could argue it’s a liberal, slash woke thing. Or, just progression. Anyways, Murphy tries to do the same thing Lyon does.

They differ technically. Lyon has consistently chosen a more vertical seam rotation, inviting more dip and bounce. The true wonder of Lyon’s art, much like a predecessor, is that he gets the ball to curve and spin, as well as the dip and bounce stuff. Mix in pace variation and a metronomic consistency that has driven batters to distraction, and you have a complete package. Not bad from a once-groundsman!

Nathan Lyon. Attached: 134 Tests, 539 wickets @30.39. Best 8/50 and economy 2.93, and a 62.1 strike rate. Steady going.

Todd Murphy came to finger spin from a pacer background—many did before him: Eddie Hemmings, Colin ‘Funky’ Miller, and Mike Watkinson being a few—a couple of curveballs there! Still, the transition from pace to spin promotes a high release and plenty of body rotation.

Todd Murphy. Attached: six Tests, 21 wickets @25.42. Best 7/124 and economy 3.03, and a 50.2 strike rate. Promising start.

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I first saw Murph in 2019-20. He was predominantly an over-spinner who relied on control and drop. His preference was lefties—he’d make a living bowling to himself. He was super-smart in strategy and had a decent amount of edge about him—looks can be deceiving.

In February 2023 in Nagpur, where Murphy debuted, there was a significant change to his release and seam position. Murphy’s pivot in his seam position was more of a complimentary shift than a technical one, partnering with Lyon for the first time. Australia sought to have one of their spinners be quicker and slide more into the stumps. Lyon would continue to operate in his accustomed manner. Initially, this role sat with Ashton Agar—which was confusing at the time, and even more so after he was prematurely handed a return ticket to Perth.

The Test debut in Nagpur was a personal triumph for Murphy amid team struggle. While Australia were reduced to their lowest score in India—91 in their second innings—Murphy presented himself with the outstanding figures of 7-124, the sixth-best innings figures for an Australian debutant. His performance stood out in a match where India's spinners—three of them—led by Jadeja (5-47) and Ashwin (5-37), dominated proceedings. Travis Head's omission was a setback for Australia. The Test exposed Australia's broader struggles against spin in subcontinental conditions and highlighted why Murphy had been chosen as Lyon's potential successor. Echuca was bouncing, so much so they felt it in Moama!

The remainder of Murphy's maiden series proved less statistically spectacular but equally instructive. In Delhi, where Australia's batting failed again to hand India a six-wicket victory, Murphy combined with debutant Matthew Kuhnemann, showing his adaptability by adjusting to a three-pronged spin attack. The series' momentum shifted briefly in Indore, where Australia claimed a rare nine-wicket victory on a challenging surface, though it was Lyon who dominated with 8-64 in the second innings.

Then, the final Test in Ahmedabad showcased Murphy's growing maturity on a pitch that offered little assistance. Despite India's mammoth 571, including Kohli's 186, Murphy maintained his composure and tactical awareness, finishing with 3-113 from 47 overs. The drawn match, played on a surface that yielded 1226 runs, highlighted Murphy's ability to adjust his game when conditions weren't in his favour—a positive for any aspiring successor to Lyon's position.

Since Ahmedabad, Murphy’s played just two Tests: Leeds and The Oval. Both pitches bore no resemblance to what he saw in India. Predictably, his numbers were down, although his last bowling innings before Galle yielded 4-110. In comparison, Nathan Lyon has played 16 Tests, bowled close to 450 sets, taken 58 wickets, well below his career average of 30.39, and his economy flatlines around his career number of 3.0. Taking the numbers out, if you interject Murphy into Lyon’s series presence, this would have rapidly accelerated Murphy’s Test education. Pakistan, New Zealand, and India all present batting challenges for a finger spinner.

It is also worth noting Murphy’s lack of work in the Sheffield Shield. Victoria splits their home games between the MCG and the Junction Oval. The former is morphing into an excellent four-day surface, and the Junction is either spirit-level flat or goes all over the place. The MCG has wearing tendencies; the Junction less so. Murphy is not benefiting from either. In short, his learning will be done on the job playing Test cricket.

So is Todd Murphy's position truly unenviable? Yes and no. Following Lyon brings pressure, but Murphy's early showings suggest he has both the tactical acumen and technical foundation to survive. His challenge isn't just about filling Lyon's shoes—it's about developing without the luxury of gradual progression that his predecessor enjoyed. While the Sheffield Shield might not offer ideal preparation, and Test cricket demands immediate results, Murphy's adaptability from Nagpur to the Oval hints at a cricketer who can handle this accelerated apprenticeship. The real test won't be whether he can replicate Lyon's career, but whether Australia and Test cricket can provide him the space and opportunities to develop his own place in the Test eco-system.

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First, my music app decided to include Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” in my daily mix. I have some Kenny Rogers stuff hidden in random playlists, but never in my daily suggestions. Initially, it seemed random, but it did start the connector side of my brain working.

Then the second unexpected occurrence.

A series of messages started dropping in a WhatsApp group titled, “Reunion 09/10 Premiership.”

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Way back then, Melbourne CC defeated St Kilda CC at the University Oval to win the 2009-10 Victorian Cricket Association Premiership.

I was fortunate to be part of the coaching group, and Australian swing bowler Adam Dale was captain/coach. I’m pretty sure it was my second year at the Albert. The side was stacked, but the time between Premierships had been too long for the Demons.

Before the win, Melbourne's last premiership was in the 1997-98 season. In that time, rival St Kilda collected six flags: 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06, including an impressive four on the bounce from 2002 through 2006. A tough situation for the red, white, and blue.

I’m often asked how I ended up at Melbourne. My two clubs as a player were Hawthorn Waverley and Dandenong. Hawthorn must hold the world record for sporting club name changes. As it stands, they’re Kingston Saints, or Hawks, or something else, who knows!

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Anyway, I’d previously fallen off the county cricket merry-go-round and had been dragged to Melbourne kicking and screaming. Both children were settled in school, I had a job—of sorts—and was done with playing Sub-District cricket. Ironically, work was the connector; I was with Gray Nicolls, Australia, and Adam Dale was National Sales Manager at New Balance. The two businesses shared a car park in Cheltenham. It was here that our paths crossed. Previously, Doemer, as he is widely known, terrorised me while playing for Bundoora Old Paradians.

Channel, channel, fuller away swing, straight, straight, off speed, bumper, sledge, sledge, smile, hooping in swing, sledge, OUT. Those reading who have shared a field with Doem will testify to the above passage. However, I didn’t help my cause!

From memory, my team, Ormond CC, had 18 odd overs to bat before stumps. I was due to bat three and ended up at seven. There were stupid promotions, at least one nightwatchperson (is that a fucking word), all in the vein of avoiding Doemer until day two (the following Saturday). By then I would be well rested, the wicket would be rolled within an inch of its life, and I would have a fool-proof strategy to get through Mr Dale. I know, fucking stupid. To Doem’s credit he didn’t table the cowardly act until I had agreed to join the Demons. (For the record: I didn’t make too many, we lost, and Doem snatched a bag!)

A ‘match made in a car park’.

The 2009/10 season followed the familiar October-to-April rhythm. Pre-season started in July, competing with AFL finals for ground space in September. Two-day matches filled most weekends, with one-dayers sprinkled early season, before and after Christmas. March brought finals cricket and autumn's shorter days.

Coaching brought its own challenges. Pre-season planning and four-team selections consumed evenings, while 'fitness February'—our dreaded mid-season conditioning program—tested everyone's resolve. But March finals in Melbourne, with its win-or-go-home intensity, made it all worthwhile.

I’m unable to place the training night; it was finals time, more likely a Tuesday than Thursday. I had been tasked with creating a theme for our 1st XI squad to anchor back to during the premiership push. As is my want, procrastination and indecision bite intermittently. I knew the message part, I just needed a vehicle to deliver it, and then make sure it stayed with us. Doemer liked simple. A well-worn Dale line was, “don’t promise the world and deliver an atlas.”

So it was a case of better late than never. I had the local FM radio on while driving into training, not paying any attention. Traffic was crappy, as per Melbourne. Then, Kenny Rogers, the Gambler started playing. The words matched the message I had perfectly. I listened once, then pulled over to Google the lyrics. Perfect. We had it—the universe can give you what you need.

Paul Jubber, our development coach, was first to hear it. It was nothing more than a verbal dump. Jubbs listened and looked confused; I went back over it, dropping the unnecessary. “Do you have anything else?” he said. “Haha, nope, this is it!” “OK, it works then!”

That was it. I had a few slides pre-cooked, and after some copy and pasting, the deck was done. Doem was likely giving the QLD regional manager a drilling, but I knew he'd appreciate this—clear messages were his style.

Originally, I intended to write a single post here. Then, the more I recalled and having spoken to some of the players and coaches, it became clear it was worthy of a longer piece, potentially two or three posts. So, with that said, I’ll stop here and get back to you soon.

As South Africans have rightly been celebrating their side's journey into the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Vaughan, speaking recently on Fox Cricket, tipped ice-cold water on their celebrations, claiming the Proteas qualified "on the back of beating pretty much nobody." He went further, saying Temba Bavuma's team didn't "warrant being in the World Test Championship final with whom they have played over the last two years." Strong words from Vaughan, as is his want—and a little muddled!

Just a side-note on Mr Vaughan: he professes to be a Yorkshireman, but then we know he was born under the straight spire of Worsley, Manchester. This made 'Virgil' Vaughan a Lancashire export, to of all places Yorkshire, who, for a period, allowed his self-promoting persona to flourish. Although my mail now has him in the comfortable environs afforded by Cheshire—of course, Alderley Edge—we should take his disparaging remarks about South Africa's path to the World Test Championship final with a generous pinch of salt.

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That said, granted, South Africa's road to Lord's was unconventional. But, the tournament's irregular schedule is a trademark of the ICC's operating style, creating a complex system that even dedicated fans struggle to grasp. Looking at the final standings, one can't help but wonder: how could anyone explain this format to someone new to cricket? You can take a look Here.

In an ideal world—without BCCI interference—the World Test Championship would follow more conventional lines: every team would play the same number of matches, face every opponent, and split games between home and away venues. But then reality and the 'big three' intervene—broadcasting rights and revenue demands make this plausible balance impossible, leaving us with today's dysfunctional format—a format open to misinterpretation—as demonstrated by Mr Vaughan.

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It's also worth noting the disparity that exists in importance across the nine participating countries. The WTC failures of England and India might prompt the powerbrokers to reconsider how the WTC is structured and hatch a plan that sees all sides playing each other across the same cycle. At worst, a third final on English soil without English participation may prompt a pivot in the current Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum mindset.

This blatant disregard toward a competition's intentions of finding the best Test-playing country across a two-year window was best summed during England's recent tour of New Zealand, with Stokes saying, "I can't remember if I've ever given any real time to be specifically thinking about the World Test Championship, to be honest, because it's utterly confusing."

I'm sure the England think-tank is aware of their record; they have a losing (less than 50% win) record across the three WTC cycles. Australia and India have each qualified for two finals—I know how important the WTC is to Andrew McDonald, Australia's coach. And we must remind ourselves that England has unconditionally assumed a morally high ground regarding how Test cricket should be played. Their team's collective ignorance shows how disconnected they are from the rest of the cricket world.

Among the most telling ChatGPT prompts of 2024 is the simple request: 'Explain Bitcoin to a 12-year-old'—reflecting a collective desire to understand complex concepts in simple terms.

Imagine asking ChatGPT to explain the World Test Championship to a 12-year-old—even the accommodating mind of artificial intelligence might struggle to simplify this entanglement of cricket rules and regulations.

So, I did, and I will spare you a thorough explanation. Instead, you can read it separately here—in the interests of inclusion, I also asked Claude and Gemini. Here's the TLDR: "I have no fucking idea!"

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South Africa's wins against the "nobodies", as Vaughan would call them, include victories in the West Indies, who beat Australia in Brisbane, and Bangladesh – this was their first series win in Asia in a decade. They also recorded clean sweeps at home against Sri Lanka, who beat England at the Oval, and Pakistan, which was also a recent winner against Baz's crew. Had they not sent a 2nd XI to New Zealand, ensuring their key players stayed home for a lucrative T20 franchise competition, there's a better than even chance they would have maintained their unbeaten record against the Black Caps, who also beat England recently—starting to see a pattern here? Despite not blindly championing England's approach, Vaughan feels invested enough to protest how cricket's demands exhaust his former team, dragging them across the globe to grow the game—heard that somewhere before?

Temba Bavuma's record of eight wins from his first nine Tests as captain elevates him to a lofty position on this metric in cricket's 148-year history—I will avoid drawing comparisons to Vaughan's early captaincy. His batters, or team, have produced nine centurions—more than Australia and England. And their attack is as potent as it gets. Coach Shukri Conrad is quietly remodelling South African cricket, shifting from self-driven teams to a collective mindset. No doubt Australia will test them in the final.

With fast-rising franchise leagues occupying precious weeks in the calendar and new proposals for a two-tiered Test ecosystem starting to look inevitable, the space between elites and also-rans is widening. So why not South Africa? I, for one, look forward to seeing what they have. And I know this to be accurate; if required, Mr Vaughan will be happy to undertake commentary duties on the final and bank the appropriate remuneration to help service his Alderley Edge abode.

And what for India, as they come off consecutive series losses? New Zealand caught them off guard with a three-Test sweep; in their defence, perhaps they had more than one eye on a trio of series wins on Australian soil. Either way, they've been blown away in both series. India has one win, one draw, and six losses from their last eight Tests. The winds of change will cause more than a little turbulence as they fly back to Mumbai— a cold BCCI welcome awaits.

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Before critiquing the Border-Gavaskar trophy, it would be prudent to remind ourselves of the oblivion that Australia found itself in following the 295-run Perth pummelling. A void hastily built by an over-sensitive local media—the majority of the non-print media comprises immediate and not-so-long-past players, many harbouring agendas that do not allow them to acknowledge the current team as legitimate. They are as stupid as they are stubborn. For all the criticism of the Pat Cummins-McDonald approach and the shift in ideology from the previous coach, the 'wokeness' (so-called) and player power, the selection approach, etc., Australia now holds every trophy apart from WT20. It's hard to argue with that, but if you are so inclined, it's not. I suspect many like me find it hard to tolerate the self-approving approach the media takes and the lack of thought about how different strategies can arrive at the same result. "How dare they be as good as we were!"

This was a Test series played on Augusta fairways in front of Ryder Cup crowds on municipal greens. I read somewhere (not Twitter/X) that the "SCG curator should be toe-roped around his ground and then shot with a ball of his excrement." Presumably, the author had day four tickets!

The pitches: Perth was typical; tacky and bouncy early, it gained pace, the cracks became visible, and the bounce was increasingly variable. Adelaide was the best scripted, with a Mitchell Starc signature and a dash of Travis Head on the side. (Gamble responsibly, or don't do it at all; this was the wager of 2024: Australia to win—from memory (I lost the screenshot) $1.84. Start the car, Bumble. Brisbane fooled Rohit (he wasn't on his game, ever)—SKW would have been laughing from above. The Gabba and the MCG hold Gold and Silver—shame about those southeast Queensland summer storms! The MCG has turned the drop-in corner. This was comfortably the pitch of the series. And the SCG? Well, it was nothing more than a cabbage patch; a dead-duck wicket, that was best exploited by the home pacers.

The bowling: India never chose four frontline seamers. Neither did Australia—they never do—and still, they bowled the house down. Jasprit Bumrah was often too good; he's a vertical seam magician. Thankfully, for the rest, he seems to dis the 'wobble seam' theory. Still, evidence remains that the Indians bowl as singles rather than partnerships or trios. The series-breaker? It has to be Scott ‘Barrel’ Boland. Boland started the series Australia's fourth-choice seamer—and will likely remain that way in the view of the blue-cap-mafia. It matters little to him—he was the second-best bowler in the series after Bumrah. As Josh Hazlewood becomes less reliable (fitness), openings will present for the next generation of Australia's fast bowlers. Honourable mention must go to Mitch Starc—Adelaide must feel like home-away-from-home for the big lefty.

The batting: Along the lines of Australia's penchant for Protestant captains, in this series, if you batted in the top four and expected to succeed, it was akin to attending Xavier College with the expectation of captaining Australia. Silence ensued from both side's top fours—Steve Smith and Jaiswal apart. The new ball was mostly unplayable; it didn't matter how good you were. After 20 overs, batting got significantly more straightforward—you could have made a case for sending in late-order fluffers. Usman Khawaja seemed unsure throughout, his footwork rarely connected with his arm-swing. Nathan McSweeney/Sam Konstas did OK. KL Rahul showed sound technique and resilience in Perth. Kohli was ineffective and, to Australia's advantage, became an irritating distraction to the Indian cause. I have no comment on Marnus, although he played a wonderful 'short draw-swing compress' wide of mid-on in Sydney. Rohit was late to the party and early to leave. With 448 runs (56.00) and two hundreds, Travis Head was the standout batter—albeit batting five. Hundreds: Australia four (Smith 2, Head 2). India three (Jaiswal, Reddy, and Kohli).

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The captains: It's weird, but Pat Cummins had never won the Border Gavaskar trophy—it's 10 years since Australia had possession. A decade of losing to India has been a blight on senior players' resumes. Captains, I believe there were four—Pat, Jaspirit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, and whoever told Prasidh Krishna to spray it all over the oche day three morning. Cummins held his nerve and balanced the 'ball and conductor' thing to perfection—he's making the impossible look increasingly easy. Bumrah was game and will likely get a go in a more permanent role soon. At least Rohit was somewhat animated in the huddles. For him, though, poor form killed whatever spark he had—and a mistake not opening in Adelaide. We can attribute the fourth person to Virat Kohli, so why not? He needs some recognition.

The coaches: this space now promotes elite management over in-game coaching acumen. Looking holistically at the preparation and the five Tests, the winner is clearly Andrew McDonald and his team. At the very least, the McDonald camp stood by their lead-in and how they had their players present without getting too deep. In comparison, if he had one, Gautam Gambhir and his team gave nothing and stood for nothing. Gambhir is a polarising figure who seems primarily responsible for the disunity in the Indian camp. To quote Gambhir—he rolls this out at every opportunity—"Let's not beat around the bush, let's talk straight." The straight is that Gambhir selected close to their best XI for the conditions once—in Perth. The rest, they guessed and failed. Sorry for the straightness!

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In summary: I ran into Australian coach Andrew McDonald at Geelong CC training between the first and second Tests. Ronnie was adamant that Perth was just a frustrating blip. Our conversation will remain there. However, Ronnie argued a solid case for the loss being just that—a loss. "It happens?" "Critical junctures went south badly." Realistically, Australia lost the opportunity to bat on Day Two when the surface was at its best. The top order failed miserably. Nathan Lyon bowled without scoreboard pressure and was mainly ineffective. Captain Pat Cummins had his worst Test for some time—which multiplied ten-fold by his decision to watch a concert over playing for Australia—the decision not to play might not have been his to make. However, Pat would have been better served staying home for Sunday dinner. Four games on, all is forgotten, and Cummins/McDonald adds another trophy to their collection.

Andrew McDonald is an astute operator in this space and is very much a player's coach, not one to bow to media pressure. He remains hungry and eager to add to his knowledge base. I believe the same cannot be said for his Indian counterpart.

This really was a blink-and-you-miss-it series.

I hear you; Warner wished to be remembered equally for his cricket and diplomacy. OK, his cricket—yes, you're probably right—not his cricket, his batting, and specifically his redefining of the opening position in Test cricket. Surely we can grant him this? He was out of his seat watching Sam Konstas dance and flick the game's first ball through mid-wicket. Unfortunately, early in his media career, he finds himself on the second or third line of commentary trios, which precludes him from calling his prodigy's first ball New Year's message. Is Australia shifting to their strain of new-age Test cricket through Sam Konstas?

I'm sure Sam 'The Krank' Konstas didn't envisage such a confrontational start to his Test career. First, it was 'shoulder gate' in Melbourne. Virat Kohli—the wilting warrior—thought it his duty to get close and personal with the 'new kid on the block'—how dare the Bruno Mars look-a-like decide to scoop, ramp, deflect, run down and swing at his old mate, Jasprit Bumrah! (Maybe they are not as chummy as we might think). The doing was bad enough, but seeing Konstas succeeding was all the more galling for the forgettable Kohli—and Kohli's knee-jerk preservation reaction?—a classic kid with his hand in the cookie jar moment.

"Me, no way, sir, it was him, honest your honour, you know who I am, right," as the crownless king pointed vigorously toward Konstas, imitating that the young tyro had changed course to initiate the contact. Kohli should be lucky that Konstas didn't employ a technique similar to the late Andrew Symonds! That burly streaker still looks for his shoulder and collarbone after a classic Aussie 'shirtfront'.

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This Test season 2024-25, Virat Kohli has 126 runs from 10 innings at an average of 12.60. He sits at the top of the table for the lowest average in the first innings of a Test season, edging out David Boon, who faired marginally better in 1994/95 with 152 runs from 12 innings.

Then to Sydney, 'Sam The Krank's' home turf. No one comes knocking here and gets away scot-free. And yes, this is the same place Davey Warney peddled his early trade. Comrades-in-arms.

After pocketing two tidy catches in India's anticipated first-innings collapse, Sam Konstas was again the centre of attention when Australia negotiated a tricky three overs before stumps on day one.

Before we get to the last-drinks squabble—it was an exceptional day of Test match cricket—first a shallow dive into India's batting woes and the par excellence of the Australian seam attack.

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Off the bat, India's captain rested—an interesting spin—in the best interest of 'his' team. You have to ask: why did Rohit Sharma travel at all? Second, India's decision to bat—not Bumrah's—was incomprehensible, given the look and texture of the surface. Pat Cummins wanted only one outcome from the toss—a correct call from Bumrah.

Then came the validation in numbers: These are related to 2024/25:

India averages less than 20 runs per first innings wicket (18.74), the lowest of any World Test Championship (WTC) team. They have just two individual hundreds in the first innings during this time, both from the number eight position: Ravi Ashwin and Nitish Kumar Reddy. (Come back, Ash). 376 against Bangladesh is India's highest first-innings total in 2024/25 and the lowest of all the WTC teams. They also have the lowest score of 2024/25—46.

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Scott Boland again was Australia's standout bowler on day one, claiming impressive figures of 4-31 as the hosts dismissed India for 185. The unassuming Victorian quick reached a significant career milestone, capturing his 50th Test wicket, and twice came agonisingly close to securing a hat-trick. As is his wont, an early breakthrough came with the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, nicely caught in the gully by debutant Beau Webster.

Boland's performance once again demonstrated his remarkable ability to strike early in his spells, a trait that has defined his Test career. During a particularly effective spell, he dismissed Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy in consecutive deliveries. He came within millimetres of completing his hat-trick when Alex Carey seemed to fumble a difficult chance from Washington Sundar.

And those last three overs!

Tensions boiled over when Usman Khawaja halted Bumrah mid-run-up for the day's penultimate ball, prompting a predictable reaction from the bowler and his team. Enter Sam 'The Krank' Konstas, who interjected with the equally predictable phrase, "He's not ready, mate."

Now, it might have the 'mate' addendum that upset Bumrah. Australians use 'mate' as liberally as flies swarm a summer barbecue. "He's not ready" would have been a fair shout. Also, the fact that Konstas left his crease, walking toward Bumrah while delivering his explanation of the time-served practice of wasting time to ensure this will be the last over the day.

The verdict came down on the Indian side, with Khawaja edging to slip after being beaten on length. Anyone close to Sam Konstas reminded him to mind his own business in these situations. I agree—a lesson well learnt.

End of day two summary: India leads by 145 runs with four-second innings wickets remaining. India, 185 (72.2) and 6/141 (32.0). Australia 181 (51.0). Debutant Beau Webster posted the game's first half-century with 57 from 105 balls.

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With three days to digest the highlights from Sam Konstas' first Test innings—I was trying to process through the Melbourne Airport security en route to another date-line crossing—I'm still trying to recall an Australian opening batter playing in similar vain.

Sadly for the 19-year-old debutant Konstas and the many who gathered early in Melbourne, it was intermediate chaos, not the full-on wrinkle—though, given the circumstances faced by the rising star of Australian batting, it was undoubtedly an upper-case green tick.

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Day one saw Sam Konstas improvise, pivot, and display a bucket-load of youthful courage in compiling 60 runs from 65 balls, with six boundaries and two maximums, before Ravindra Jadeja beat his defensive push-prop. Of Jadeja's 319 Test wickets, there would be many in this fashion—his ability to sneak past both sides of the edge stands him out from many. Konstas shouldn't be too disappointed.

The Konstas chaos arrived by necessity rather than planning. However, his selection and Nathan McSweeney's axing suggested a shift to more urgency at the top of the order and perhaps, heaven forbid, an attempt to unsettle the unstoppable Jasprit Bumrah, whose series record read 21 wickets at 10 before the Boxing Day Test. George Bailey and his selection team deserve credit for a more aggressive approach.

That necessity became apparent as Konstas watched multiple balls beat his outside edge in the game's first over—a baptism of fire doesn't do the experience justice. Lateral variation from the seam and in the air challenged Australia's decision to bat first—the MCG pitches are changing for the better, this looks a beauty. And again, credit to Pat Cummins for batting first.

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Twelve months ago, Sam Konstas was playing for NSW Metro in the U19 Championships. In round three, he was upstaged by VIC Metro leg spinner Bailey Toseland; this might have been partly due to the crowd size at Bethanga Recreation Reserve and a low, dry pitch. Albury boasts some nice grounds, though not in comparison to the MCG on Boxing Day.

It is incredible—and encouraging for his peers—that a cricket journey can fast-forward so quickly. Bravo, Sam Konstas.

For the record, Konstas made 46 from 75 in a losing total; Toseland returned six for eight from seven overs—Konstas makes his Test debut on Boxing Day and Baz Toseland? He'd be wheeling them out in the backyard, waiting for a return to Premier cricket in the New Year.

If Australia is converting to a strain of 'Bazball' and Konstas is their man to lead the charge, this was a solid start.

In the recent Ashes in the UK, England and Australia's batting methods were distinctly different. Coach Andrew McDonald maintained that Australia would continue to employ their standard approach to the job at hand, refusing to be drawn into the Bazball chaos employed by England.

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Harry Brook, England's premier enforcer in this space, is so far out of the blocks it's not funny. Since making his Test debut in 2022, Brook has dominated England's middle-order productivity with the evergreen Joe Root. In 2024, he has 1100 runs from 20 hits at a strike rate of 85. Contrary to what you might think, Brooks' career strike rate has slipped in his three years of Test cricket. In 2022, he was striking at 92; in 2023, he dipped to 91, then to a lethargic 85 in 2024. Brooks' batting has moved quickly from promising to constant—this chaos is what Australia might want from Sam Konstas. Or what David Warner gave them at the top of the order, which is more aligned with Australia's batting modus operandi. Either way, the Konstas journey will provide absorbing viewing. Also worth noting is that Shane Watson acts as Konstas' mentor—indeed, the mercurial Watson will draw on his own experiences to help Konstas flatten out the up-and-down curve of success.

The pivotal fourth Test between Australia and India at the MCG sees the hosts still holding the winning hand. Australia posted a plentiful first-innings total of 474, primarily underpinned by Steve Smith's impressive 140 and ably assisted by Pat Cummins 49—the two combined for a 112-run partnership.

In response, India's top order again faltered, with the exception of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who played beautifully for his 82 (118 balls). Resuming Day 3 at 5 for 164, Nitish Kumar Reddy posted his maiden Test century (105 not out) to extricate his new teammates from another potential first innings follow-on. After returning after a couple of games on the pine, Washington Sundar complied a patient 50, adding 127 with Reddy in a crucial partnership for the visitors.

It's not permitted, but Jaiswal has every right to give Virat Kohli the bird after a wasteful runout that robbed the young pretender of another hundred. Kohli is an excellent runner when he's the striker, but not so when he's the partner—the first rule of non-striker running is not to ball-watch. Kohli was guilty on all counts. Another sign that the King is no longer who he was.

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Travis Head—Australia—gathered 152 runs from 160 balls on the back of a Test-winning century in Adelaide. Brisbane was awash on Saturday; a day later, it saw a straightforward player employ a simple method to maximum effect. Head will undoubtedly send a Christmas card to Indian captain Rohit Sharma.

Head accumulated as many false shots as his fellow centurion, Steve Smith; however, his propensity for the risk-and-reward game far outweighed his burdened partner. The partnership was a match made in Brisbane.

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Simplicity and brevity are the key messages here, so with that in mind, I'll avoid negativity and statistical mire. But, it is odd that Head employs such a risk-laden game yet enjoys success more often than he doesn't and more often than his more conservative peers.

In cricket-batting speak, we create a fog of conflicting theories and constantly float undefinable statements: contact points, draw-swings, bat paths, swing planes, access, closed-off, triggers, ball-tracking, and body-part connections. You could go on; somewhere, an aspiring coach is drafting a new formula to change the world. And, it matters not one bit to Travis Head.

The simplicity of his method relies on him finding the ball (tracking) and then hitting that ball the best he can (contact)—period.

This naked mindset starkly contrasts his batting-order predecessors, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.

Steve Smith returned to his soft-shoe-shuffling routine and posted his fourth Gabba hundred—the previous three, India in 2014, Pakistan in 2016, and England in 2017, were from a different vintage; this one was unexpectantly overdue and necessary.

This hundred had many misjudgements, in-ball adjustments, inside edges, and handsy driving. Interestingly, Smith again pivoted on his method, and his tank is less than half full. He is a committed cricketer demanding every last drop of what he has left.

Australia should be more appreciative of a generational talent that serves them loyally.

Anyway, back to Travis Head. The pithy I write here perfectly matches the modus operandi employed by Head. Short, concise, and blindingly simple—that's more Travis Head's batting than my discourse.

Travis Head repeated the 'find and hit' process 160 times until he went out; when he did, Head just walked off, sat down, and would have waited until he could drink a beer. There is nothing else to say. He also placed his side in a commanding position.

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Simplicity in the method is a stark reminder that repeatable actions underpin any attempt to master something.

Whatever your pursuit is. Strip away the unnecessary, and train and trust the fundamentals.

Substack is a tidy platform. For a small percentage of subscriber revenue, they provide an easy space to write and publish, with tools to grow and manage your audience. It's direct-to-consumer content—a growing space on the commercial internet. Let's hope, anyway.

My go-to tab on the writer's dashboard is 'subscribers.' Here, I see new sign-ups, reading habit data, and the oldies who've been here from the start—thank you. The funny part? I only see email addresses. Sometimes I can guess a full name if the address is transparent, other times just a first name. Often, I have no clue who the sign-up is.

This morning, I checked and felt genuinely thankful all subscribers were still present. Some financially committed, others (I assume) waiting for a reason to invest. This references my recent... let's call it "intermittent" posting.

Anyways, it’s good to be back here.

The summer of cricket (or lack thereof).

Not to make excuses, but the 2024 summer—assuming a northern hemisphere bias—has been a complete mystery. Or, as a wannabe cricket writer might say, a non-event. Here we are in August, struggling to pin down a memorable moment. (Yes, the nostalgic British will surely point to James Anderson's retirement?)

Since April, I've managed to drip out a grand total of eight Across Cricket pieces. That's roughly one every fortnight. Anywhere else, that's enough to get you sacked!

Three columns were dedicated to the T20 World Cup during my stint in the un-United States. One was a valiant effort to connect AI with cricket selection issues. There was some coaching self-reflection at the expense of one of Australia's emerging batting talents, Jake Fraser-McGurk—I enjoyed that one. James Anderson occupied a column—because everyone loves Jimmy. Then there was some self-indulgence about my playing insecurities and the predicament of 'being overtaken'. (I sent this to Joe Biden. Still waiting on his reply!)

Now, you might wonder why I'm calling it the "un-United States." Well, that's a story for another time—I do also get on Mr Biden too much!

What I can tell you is that despite the political divisiveness, my 3-month stay was wonderful. Between visiting friends, spending time with my son and my partner, and re-visiting the anglo-charm of New England, I found myself, again, fully immersed in an enthralling culture.

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The lack of content wasn't due to a lack of want; it was more of a lack of material to get the right side/left side working. If there is one strength in my content game, it's thought and seeing through a different lens. This strength wasn't a product of self-discovery; no, I have been told this on multiple occasions. It’s still hard to believe.

So, the question begs: What to do?

Substack is a great platform for writers, but cricket writers are definitely in the minority—despite cricket being the world's most popular game. (Thank you, India!)

The cricket Substacks I read are excellent:

• Gideon Haigh and Pete Lalor at Cricket Et Al

• Simon 'Yozzer' Hughes at The Cricverse (I recommend his latest piece on the tragic passing of Graham Thorpe)

• Neil Manthorp's Manners-on-cricket, offering a South African perspective

• Tarutr Malhotra's The Best Cricket Stories, providing an Indian viewpoint

And there are others that rank higher in the Substack algorithm.

As for SpeakingNick, well, it's a bit confusing. Someone way back suggested it would be a great play on my surname and the writing caper. But there's no mention of cricket—I should have pointed that out! There's further thinking to be done here.

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Recently, Peter Lalor wrote a post lamenting the lot of cricket journalists who get too close to players and lose their trust. He describes the balancing act a cricket journo must measure when gleaning stories and then breaking them. Cricket journalism differs from cricket writing, where you can be more measured and not restricted by deadlines. You can read the full post here.

In summary:

Lalor's article "Cricket Media's Fine Balance" offers an insider's perspective on the intricate dynamics between cricket journalists and players. Lalor highlights the delicate balance required to maintain professional integrity while fostering relationships crucial for insightful reporting. He illustrates this through personal anecdotes involving high-profile cricketers such as past captain Michael Clarke, the human headline that's David Warner, and current samaritan Usman Khawaja. He argues for and against how these connections can lead to exclusive stories and a deeper understanding of the sport and its protagonists.

Cricket journalists face ethical dilemmas, mainly when reporting on sensitive issues or criticising player performance—how dare they! He debates the unwritten rules of respecting players' privacy in shared spaces like team hotels and the importance of confronting players face-to-face after publishing critical articles. He goes to the challenges of reporting negative stories while maintaining player access and relationships, highlighting the small and interconnected nature of the cricket world.

Lalor contrasts the value of on-the-ground reporting with the rise of digital media and 'content providers'—to be avoided. He argues for the continued presence of journalists at practice and on tours, citing examples like the nearly forgotten sandpaper scandal, where being physically present provided unique insights. Lalor basically champions the cause of the authentic cricket reporter and, by extension, cricket writer.

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So, really, I wanted to see if I could get through a post without saying anything at all. If it was easier than normal then I guess the 'deeper posts' are worthwhile; if—and it hasn't been—easier than a normal post then I'm likely in a world of hurt.

That said, I hope you are happy to have my words and thoughts back—with some help from others. The 2024-25 southern hemisphere summer shapes as a far more interesting subject with India wanting to three-peat Australia on their home turf.

Stay tuned, and, as always, thank you for being here.

Jimmy Anderson will play on like Joe Biden is, maintaining his unhealthy love of office. An end plan had to be issued; Jimmy likely wanted that. Well done—the Democrats missed their window.

Ben Foakes—it looks like you’re being unkind. Yes, he’s an old-school locker room kinda guy, but he’s one-dimensional, and unfortunately for him, he sits in the ‘easy-to-drop category.

Ollie Robinson—forget it. I think you have.

Jamie Smith looks good, and some say he's a generational talent—oh dear, we know what can come next; he plays for England A (Surrey CCC) and fits the Bazball mandate—that's right. So, pick him, and you did.

Jack Leach: he's an author's favourite. Injuries have been uncharitable to the green-fingered twirler. Leach did the hard yards in the Giles/Silverwood/Root epoch and at the start of Bazball when mid-off and mid-ons were rarely allowed. Now, he must contemplate a TV career as a gardening presenter. I'm sure the ECB's benevolence will help.

This passage was part of my mental note to Rob Key, head/lead/chief selector of England men's cricket, before the Lord's Test with the West Indies.

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Rob Key was appointed the Managing Director of England Men's Cricket on April 17, 2022, taking over from Ashley Giles.

Australian pundit Kerry O'Keeffe described Giles as the ultimate committee person. He believed he would break all records for committees sat on. Clearly a piss-taker, O'Keeffe thrives on baiting the English. Giles was always an easy target.

But this was where English cricket had descended. It was back in the 1970s and 1980s when the gatekeepers were as distantly removed from the men on the ground as they could possibly be.

Key rode into the job on a wave of fresh optimism and hope. The hope soon transcended to success, and the optimism moved to belief in what seemed like days. A new era of self-gratulation dispelled all the negativity that preceded Key's appointment. Of course, a change in captaincy and a move to a more positive coaching mindset helped his cause.

That said, Key's initial impact was telling.

In June 2022, England defeated New Zealand in an absorbing home Test series. In July, they beat India in a rescheduled Test. Later that summer, they brushed South Africa aside. Then, in December, England whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in an away Test series.

Oh, in November 2022, they also added the T20 World Cup under Jos Buttler's captaincy.

Arguing against Key's impact in his first nine months is hard.

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An eagerly awaited home Ashes series framed 2023. Australia will benchmark your shift in strategy more diligently than any other team in world cricket. The series contained many fascinating sub-plots:

The most compelling was the contrasting cricket philosophies of England's dynamic 'Bazball' strategy, implemented by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, against Australia's traditional and systematic approach. On reflection, neither superseded the other.

The 'human headline, David Warner, would be playing his last series in England, where his record has fallen well short of his career numbers. On the other side of the corridor, Stuart Broad was playing his last International series.

Ultimately a tied series spoke more to the development of England's cricket than Australia's failure to close out the series.

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The media and the fans play a part, but it's frustrating to read and hear the BS about a shift in selection. No one needs a lecture on this.

Really, it's not just on a whim: Smith instead of Bairstow or Foakes. Key and his cohorts have a plethora of information and facts on why and when to move in a different direction. I also support the use of a subjective element in selection. If this wasn't there, anyone might do the job. Feelings and hunches have to be considered and acted upon. If Smith for either was this, no worries.

Rob Key has house money to play with here.

It's true, Ben Foakes is currently the first-choice keeper at Surrey. So, yes, Jamie Smith is a gamble. A gamble Rob Key believes is justified. Perhaps Surrey have it arse about face.

Here's some of what Key said to justify him doing his job:

"We've been watching Jamie Smith for some time now. You see players who are rare talents, and he looks like that. There's a lot made of us just wanting someone to go out there and play shots; this is not the case. We want someone who can not only up the ante when they're batting with the tail but soak up pressure when they need to, and we feel Jamie Smith can do that."

And, on Bairstow, "Jonny needs to get back to where he was a couple of years ago. Generally, his form in all formats has been going in the wrong direction. You want him to get back to what he was when Brendon and Ben started out, "Key said.

"It's an arduous task, being a keeper as well, so you want someone who can back up series after series, and we weren't convinced Jonny would be able to do that, especially at the stage of career he's at," he added.

So, Bairstow's too old. This is it. Why not just say Jonny's numbers don't warrant him a place, and we feel it's time to give someone else an opportunity against below-par opposition—the opposition bit isn't necessary?

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Legendary investor Charlie Munger is described as the best 60-second thinker ever. At first glance, this sounds impulsive. But perhaps we can think too deeply: " Let's play Jamie Smith and manage the fallout." Instincts should be encouraged.

Michael Sholly is a well-known cricket identity in Melbourne. Sholl has filled every leadership position at the Melbourne Cricket Club; he is living proof that you can be both a polarising presence and universally respected. During my time at Melbourne there wasn't one decision made without the best interests of the team front of mind. He cared less about the club than the team.

Rob Key's tenure has seen a positive shift in England's cricketing fortunes, with a primary focus on aggressive play across all three formats. Strategic selection criteria has supported this by blending experienced and younger players.

Retiring players who leave too big a void put a team in the worst possible position. Key and his colleagues must balance this evolutionary cycle.

I wish for Key and his like to enjoy room to exercise their judgements without undue influence from the periphery.

Appendix:

England won the Lord's Test by an innings and 114 runs.

Gus Atkinson—one of Anderson's underlings—returned extraordinary figures on debut: 7-45 in the first innings and 5-61 in the second. Jamie Smith made 70 (119 balls). His entry point being 5 for 254, and his exit—last man out—10 for 371. Both players vindicate selection.

I don't have a report on Jack Leach, but I'm guessing that in between watching the cricket from his favourite armchair, he would have been meticulously tending to his Taunton garden

In sports, as in life, being overtaken is an inevitable but avoidable reckoning that spares few.

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Before getting to my personal experience, I might try tabling some real-world examples:

I like Google. I've read three or four books on its early days. The against-the-odds story drew me in, as did the founders' characters, both similar yet diametrically opposite. The principle of building something to solve one particular problem is lost in most present-day start-ups. Yes, Google has changed dramatically, but the original idea blossomed, because 'search' was broken. They won, and big.

Fast-forward to now, and Google is vulnerable due to their size and incredible track record of innovation. Smaller competitors are picking them off, and some are mimicking what Google did initially, just better.

I would argue that 'search' turned the full circle, returning to its original position. Currently, it is almost impossible to avoid Google's algorithmic lean toward selling ads. I still use Google, just less frequently than I did. Perplexity now meets my wants, which is many times better at research than google. And I use Exa, which retrieves articles and relevant news without all the hard sell.

You can make a strong case that Google is losing in this space.

Tiger Woods' record will live eternally, but his golf game no longer holds up. I admire Woods' stoicism and refusal to believe he can no longer compete. Unfortunately, reality tells a different story.

Subjectively, Harry Brook the cricketer, is a better batsman than Jonny Bairstow. Try getting a Bairstow nod of approval on that!

Manners used to be observed and upheld. I'm writing this in a lunch cafe; at least three college-age kids sit with their feet up on an adjoining chair while older folk—like me—sit crammed around under-size tables. All three are oblivious, and worse, me included, no one has told them to put their open feet on the floor.

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In my case, it is related to my time as a professional cricketer; it happened twice: first, at Lancashire CCC, and later, at Durham.

While drafting some parts of a ‘potential book’, the idea of 'being overtaken’ surfaced in a stanza relating to my own experience of a condition that, on further review, happens more than we know.

Here's a part of the rough draft:

"Just when I thought I was set, I wasn't. Historically, Lancashire made you wait for your chance; that was their thing, a calling card, a reputation upheld by the committee and participating senior players. Junior players knew no different; the 2nd XI was as strong as any in the country, and we won a championship—I think, but no one cared—it was double AA cricket, a farm system. I should say we had a lot of fun. "Good luck, you lads." These are the last words we heard before heading into battle. John Savage was one of the kindest, most thoughtful men I was lucky to meet. Motivator, though, not really. But this was our lot; you either waited for another season or hoped for an injury—which sounds terrible!

My chance came toward the end of the 1991 season; after making a first-class debut in 1986-87, I played sporadically, never doing enough to keep my name on the travel sheet. During 1991, three counties showed interest, Somerset being the most forthright. This is how naive we were back then—or, perhaps it was just me—without a manager to advise, I told Lancashire of the approach, and they promptly arranged a meeting with Peter Robinson of Somerset. My chaperone was Robert Bennett, the then Lancashire chairman. Haha, hilarious. Mr Bennett explained to Mr Robinson that I was on the cusp of extended 1st XI opportunities—never once did he look or talk to me in vision—and he added, "It would be unwise for Nick to start somewhere afresh." The two then talked about commercial conditions—Lancashire being the city powerhouse and Somerset the market town bumpkin. Honestly, I should have told Mr Bennett to tell his story elsewhere. Peter Robinson seemed abjectly apologetic. It was awful. The only thing worse was the four-hour drive back to 'Gold Trafford.

I did get those opportunities at the end of 1991 and cashed in on a flat Old Trafford wicket against an undermanned Surrey attack. I made 150 odd, and the farm was saved temporarily. My mate, ex-Lancashire player Tony Murphy, was playing for Surrey; Murph started me with a few halvies on leg-stump—or it might have been middle! What a constitution Murph had—I blamed him for everything."

So, the early to mid '90s saw my career grow. I was building a solid record and life seemed on track. However, complacency set in, and I failed to see what was coming. Two talented players emerged, both highly skilled with bright futures ahead. Suddenly, I found myself overtaken, losing my spot in the team. With over 7000 runs at an average of 40 in first-class cricket for Lancashire, I should have been grateful for my achievements. Instead, I was bitter. As the golf adage goes, "Don't get mad, get better." The lesson was clear: always be vigilant, read the room, and never assume your position is secure. Being overtaken can happen to anyone, especially when you're not paying attention.

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Being overtaken is an inevitable part of life's journey, whether in sports, business, or personal growth. My experiences in cricket have taught me valuable lessons, none more relevant than success is brief, and complacency will be your greatest enemy. The key lies not in avoiding being overtaken—this is often beyond your control—it’s more how you respond.

In retrospect, I realise now that being superseded doesn't diminish your past achievements or the potential for future personal growth. It's more an opportunity to self-reflect, a chance to 'get better, not mad.'

For athletes in the twilight of their careers, for companies like Google facing new competitors, and for all of us navigating life's changes, the challenge is the same: to acknowledge our new reality with humility, to learn from experiences, and to find new ways to contribute and succeed.

In the end, being overtaken isn't just about losing your place; it's about discovering new paths, redefining success, and understanding that your worth isn't solely determined by your position in the race to the finish-line. It's a reminder that life, like sport, is not just about the destination, but the journey and how we choose to navigate it.

‘Don’t get mad, get better!

What defines Australian cricket? It surprised me because the asker was a local American. I dallied, as usual, trying to frame the answer in local terms when there was no need to. I settled on the following:

"Above all, it's the fierce desire to win—or rather, the abject fear of losing."

Australian cricket builds lofty walls and moats as wide as the Amazon using their abrasive mindset and extensive skill base. If breached, it can lead to abject implosion; sadly for the opposition, this is as infrequent as the summer solstice.

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In the 2024 T20 Men's World Cup, Australia stormed into the Super Eights with four straight wins. Their group—featuring Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and India—promises potential upsets. Meanwhile, England, whom Australia narrowly missed relegating, faces South Africa, the West Indies, and the wild-card USA in the other group.

Few would wager against Australia, progressing to the final four.

Today, I used my 'daily question' on the validity of June 20 being the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Nominally, I thought it might be another random date on the calendar, which these parts are prone to establishing. But no, the answer validated a scientific reason—the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year when the Sun is at its highest point in the sky at noon in the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in the most daylight hours.

I also learned that 56 years ago, Boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston for violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. It proved to be a significant moment in Ali's life and had a lasting impact on his career and political activism.

It had me thinking, not about Ali's political and social bents but about what traits he might have shared with Australian cricket.

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Renowned for his remarkable blend of athletic excellence and strategic mind games, Ali consistently dominated his opponents in physical terms and mental manipulation. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" could easily apply to the Aussies' approach, specifically in the T20 format. They have the fluid agility to adapt to any situation and the power to deliver knockout blows when needed.

Ali's ring resilience mirrors the Australian team's ability to rebound and thrive in adversity. Just as Ali could take hits and come back stronger, the Australian team often thrives when their backs are against the wall. This mental toughness is a cornerstone of Ali's career and the Australian cricket ethos.

Ali's "rope-a-dope" strategy in his famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight with George Foreman finds its cricket equivalent in how Australia absorbs pressure at different stages of their bowling or batting innings, only to launch decisive counterattacks later. This ability to weather the storm and strike at the opportune moment is a trait shared by both the boxing legend and the cricket powerhouse. Above all, it requires nerve and an absolute belief in being able to execute 100% of the time.

Their shared confidence often comes across as arrogance. Moreover, their sustained dominance demonstrates their commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

The Australian T20 cricket team embodies many qualities that made Muhammad Ali a sporting icon. Like Ali, their blend of skill, strategy, mental toughness, and unyielding self-belief makes them look very difficult to beat in this T20 World Cup.

Overnight, Australia cruised to a 28-run victory via DLS over Bangladesh in a rain-affected T20 World Cup Super Eights contest at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

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Australia entered the match with an unbeaten record from the group stage, while Bangladesh had a promising start with wins against Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and Nepal, alongside a narrow loss to South Africa.

Pat Cummins became only the second Australian to take a hat-trick in a Men’s T20 World Cup match as the Bangladesh Tigers were restricted to 8-140 from their 20 overs.

In reply, Australia charged to 2-100 in the 12th over before rain forced a premature end to the match, with evergreen opener David Warner finishing unbeaten on 53.

Beware the Aussies.

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With or without Donald Trump, I am starting to understand patriotism in America runs deep—I must have been asleep at the wheel previously.

This trip, the American people's prefixation with anchoring to the flag, is as visible as the country's absolute mess. Most of the world is broken, too—just not as overtly as here.

Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln were cricket fans. I have a column half-finished on Jimmy Carter and his connection to the gentlemen's game. America has the Philadelphia Cricket Club and the St George's Cricket Club's ground at what is now 30th Street and Broadway (then Bloomingdale Road) in Manhattan, which hosted a significant game between the United States of America and the British Empire's Canadian Province in 1844.

Then there are Joe Biden and Trump—God Save Us. We can categorise them with most of mainstream America, which has little understanding and care of cricket.

As an Anglo—Australian—which is sketchy—I travel on a British passport and enjoy permanent residency in Australia (please let me know how that defines me). Anyway, I am rooting for a U.S. cricket revival; or at least a re-start. (How many mixed metaphors can you employ?)

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Yesterday, New York hosted a cricket game expected to be viewed by twice as many people as the Super Bowl. As said, most of America is oblivious to the rules and nuances of cricket. If you're in that tribe, you will need a particular type of friend: one with unlimited patience and preferably some cricket schooling in South Asia, Australasia, Southern Africa, or England. That narrows the funnel somewhat!

I spent the day (Sunday) in Boston, separating myself from two wedding-dress-shopping females—actually, truth be known, I was herded off. Fortunately, I know the city and continue to be perfectly happy with my own company. The tube/subway system is affectionately called the 'T'. Bostonians love to bag the 'T'—being an infrequent user, I actually don't mind it. As always, with this type of service, you might travel with some interesting characters. Sunday did not disappoint. Long story short: two gentlemen started conversations with themselves, both increasing the volume as the other got louder until a point where one cracked the shits, big time. A confrontation was imminent; this was happening right in front of me; then, magically, the doors opened, and both got off to carry on their discussion. I think the station was Roxbury Crossing. Viva Roxbury. Perhaps it’s a daily ritual—I hope both parties are OK.

I could tell that neither of the protagonists was talking about cricket. My final destination was North Station. TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins, is located within North Station—it would be akin to Docklands stadium moving to Flinders Street. I thought this might be an excellent spot to see if I could find some cricket-talking companions. The Celtics were playing Dallas that night in the NBA championship finals. Cricket, not a chance. I asked three random's if they knew of the game in New York; two brushed me completely, and the other showed glimpses of interest until I told him India was playing Pakistan.

From there, I wandered past the state capital building and into Beacon Hill, a beautiful part of the city. Of course, this is home to the Cheers pub! Surely, Cliff would be across the India—Pakistan game. First, I couldn't locate Cliff, and second, seats are at a premium. Warning for travellers: be ready to wait for a seat at the bar. Nevertheless, Cheers is a great spot.

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And the cricket:

Pakistan won the toss and bowled well—they usually do—less so the fielding component. India closed posting 119—on this New York wicket, it represented a Scottie Scheffler-like under-par total. Pakistan are hardly reliable in the best of form, on this pitch, and against the world's premier T20 attack, this was always going to be a bum-twitcher.

Through the nine innings, India was just too reliable. The IPL has shaped them in their pressure plays. The captain is cool, his bowlers cooler still, and they actually field and hustle with the best. Pakistan finished seven runs short. The deficit was wider than the result. Pakistan gassed it, and India knew they would.

Forgive my baseball analogy!

But India has cricket's ultimate pitcher, Jasprit Bumrah.

Bumrah bowls no-hitters for the first four innings when the outfield is forced into the infield. Then, after a stint in the long grass, he returns as a fast-ball-throwing closer without a peer. He should be paid in gold bars.

His 15th over dismissal of Mohammad Rizwin, who had absorbed much of India's offensive intent, signalled the end for Pakistan, India's fiercest cricketing and geopolitical rival.

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I can at-test to America's stringent border control. It is understandable and warranted. But can cricket legitimately make it past this first line of defence?

America does an outstanding job of exporting its culture to the rest of the world; unfortunately, this looks like a two-way street that will be long in the making.

You might think this is headlining the Men’s Lacrosse World Championships.

Hell no, baby. This isn't just any tournament. The 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup is set to be a generational tournament co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies.

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SubHeadline: India plays Pakistan on Long Island, New York, at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, NY. How confusing is this? To place it in context, ISIS has issued an alert to possible interruption; they have their wires crossed here.

June in North America is undoubtedly a time for loafers, shorts, swimsuits, grilling, baseball, NFL yearning, and golfing, and you could go. Yes, it is a place in the calendar for mild optimism; however, from my viewpoint, this is a challenging position to take. A positive to negate the pessimism; positiveness is a redeeming quality shared by many Americans; perhaps it's the church's influence, but still, it is refreshing amidst the uncertainty I see.

I didn't want to mention November, but I will. The talk of an un-electable election is unavoidable.

Last Sunday, I shared dinner with friends here in Connecticut. Amongst the crew was a distinguished, proud American who had been around long enough to know what's what. Post dinner, I sat with Ron while others busied with clearing tasks. I asked a simple, straightforward question, "Ron, which way do you think it will go?" He took little time to offer a 'crossed finger' sign. Later, he said he hoped "sense will prevail in this election, Biden will be re-elected, and that the country might move on from both Trump and Biden.”

Additional note: I started this post-Wednesday 29 May. It was business as usual around here: NBA finals, NHL, some NFL talk, Scottie Scheffler being cleared of all charges, and, of course, the Donald Trump trial in Manhattan. My internal deadline to post was yesterday; I got side-tracked, not by Trump or any of the above—well, that's not 100% true—I deviated to some extensive research on Joe Mazzulla, the head coach of the Boston Celtics. It consumed my Thursday—and I look forward to sharing that with you early next week.

Sorry, the additional note: Donald Trump was guilty of all 34 charges. Holy shit. I found myself glued to the TV. They say nothing in the Constitution prevents a Presidential candidate from running, and it is worth knowing that the people wrote it. However, it's unlikely they, the people, expected prospective Presidents to be on trial for paying hush money to adult porn stars. Of all the commentary, this snippet resonated most: "Today was the day Trump won the 2024 election." How did America get to this place?

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So, the co-hosts, the USA, and their near-neighbours, Canada, will start the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.

The game is scheduled for Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 7:30 pm local time. (Dallas is in Central Daylight Time—(GMT-5), and AEST is (-14), so the start time in London will be 1.30 am and 9.30 am in Melbourne the following day).

The match marks the first-ever ICC tournament game in the United States, setting the stage for a month-long competition. Seeing as we're talking cricket and given recent meteorological happenings in the Lone Star state, the long-range forecast predicts clear skies and temperatures ranging between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius. The men from the North might melt.

Cricket media heavyweights Star Sports India and the UK's Sky Sports will be broadcasting. The local provider is Willow; I'm yet to work out how to watch without off-shore VPNs. Navigating cable/streaming TV in the US is more complex than you might expect.

For those interested in what the U.S. bookmakers (bookies, sports books) make of their chances:

DraftKings has the USA at (+50000) and Canada the rank outsiders at (+100000). By way of explanation, the USA are 500/1 fractional (U.K.) or 501.00 decimal (Australia). And Canada: 1000/1 and 1001.00. This is to win the tournament—both have no fucking hope! However, in their head-to-head, the USA (-250) is placed favourite over Canada (+190). That's the U.S. (1.67 and 2/3) and Canada (2.90 and 2/1).

Cricket is not usually a rivalry shared by the USA and its northern neighbour, Canada. Still, it might be worth a 'ghost wager'.

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The USA team, led by Monank Patel, enters the tournament with a strong squad bolstered by the inclusion of former New Zealand international Corey Anderson and the return of key bowler Ali Khan. The co-hosts have shown impressive form recently, including a series win against Bangladesh, which has raised expectations for their performance in the World Cup. Key players Aaron Jones and Steven Taylor will play crucial roles in the batting lineup, while Ali Khan's experience on the T20 circuit will be vital for their bowling attack. The USA's recent victories against Canada in a five-match T20I series further boost their confidence heading into the tournament opener.

Captained by Saad Bin Zafar, Canada also makes its maiden appearance in the T20 World Cup. The team comprises experienced players, including the return of pacer Jeremy Gordon and all-rounder Junaid Siddiqui. Despite their recent struggles, Canada has the potential to surprise, especially with players like Ravinderpal Singh, who has shown explosive T20 batting capabilities. The match against the USA will be crucial for Canada to set a positive tone for their World Cup campaign.

Both teams hope to start strongly in Group A, which also features heavyweights like India and Pakistan.

I'm sure you've noticed that I am in the U.S., and I will be watching and reporting on as much of the tournament as possible. Perhaps there will be some cultural discussion to keep us grounded—not too much, I promise.

It's challenging to find selectorial royalty; let's be honest, at all levels, piecing together cricket teams is a thankless pastime littered with casualties and told-you-so's.

First, I thought it prudent to look back to a time when selection committees were less critical and not as scrutinised as they are today. And a time when the thought of machine learning was associated with the advent of motor cars, not super-computers telling us who to play and why!

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Sir Pelham Francis ‘Plum’ Warner (1873–1963) was an English Test cricketer; he played in 15 Tests, captaining 10. Right-handed batting was his thing, and he was twice honoured as Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1904 and 1921, perhaps more for his diplomacy than cricket.

The career highlight was his part in regaining the 1903–04 Ashes. After retiring as a player, Warner served as England's chairman of selectors and tour manager for several years; the controversial 1932-33 "Bodyline" series would have been particularly challenging. Another point to report is that Warner founded The Cricketer magazine—a personal favourite in my formative years.

Subjectively, I offer Plum Warner as the matriarch of national cricket selectors.

Moving to a more contemporary period, I second, Geoff 'Dusty’ Miller.

A mildly unorthodox figure with a singular approach, Dusty Miller had the potential to become as influential a voice in team selection as the aforementioned Plum Warner himself. As England's Chairman of Selectors from 2008 to 2013, Miller brought a refreshingly original perspective, routinely challenging conventions and defying expectations in his decision-making. Above anything, Miller actually watched county games, and knew a decent percentage of players. This change in thinking in itself was a revelation.

Cricket writer Colin Bateman placed Miller best, 

"Geoff Miller concedes that he probably enjoyed cricket too much. He did not take it as seriously as some, and when it became a rigorous, grim-faced business, he was happy to leave behind an eight-year Test career that was largely unfulfilled." 

Fellow Substacker Simon 'Yozzer' Hughes also had this to say about Dusty Miller, 

"He was the last remaining player who unfailingly visited the opposing team's dressing room after play to thank them for the game ... [and] the last man to field at slip with a whoopee cushion up his jumper." Come on, Yoz.

Miller's best performance as a player came during the 1978-79 Ashes when he took 23 wickets at 15.04 and was England's fifth-highest run-scorer—imagine that. Miller played county cricket for Derbyshire and Essex, captaining Derbyshire from 1979 to 1981.

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So, what does all this have to do with artificial intelligence (AI)?

Well, artificial intelligence is the technology story of the year; it may prove to be the defining narrative of this decade and many more.

In a sentence, roughly 10-15 years ago, selecting cricket teams pre-analytics was entirely subjective and corruptible.

It followed a blinkered territorial approach in many parts of the cricket world.

Australia fought internally within the five and, latterly, six states. The notion was widespread that New South Welshmen enjoyed preferential grading regarding national selection. The New South Wales cap was a prelude to the 'Baggy Green. Tasmanians and players from Western Australia had to knock the proverbial door down.

The West Indies' geography fragments its cricket. A Jamaican president of the board was ostensibly good news for aspiring Jamaican cricketers. Then, a change at the board level would bring a different bias; I believe this was only sometimes conscious. Logistics made it difficult for committees to see everything. You could go on verbatim—Middlesex and Surrey are far more fashionable than Lancashire and Yorkshire. Auckland over Wellington. Karachi rather than Lahore. Etc.

I'm not telling you anything new when I say an extroverted personality isn't a common trait amongst cricket selectors. More a dour, uncompromising—and essential to the AI cause—binary approach is required. "We need someone to blame when it goes 'tits up', and if and when it works, we need you to drift to the shadows quietly—unlike the current Australian practice.

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For the past month, I've been playing around with a private GPT—these AI agents run around in the background performing tasks that normal humans find either tedious, too complicated or, in many cases, all of the above! You can initiate the training with a single rudimentary prompt. From there, you can iterate and task up the bot with as much supplementary information as you like. I gathered team information from the last T20 World Cup for the six primary teams—India, Pakistan, England, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. They were my subjective selections! The data showed how team selection changed depending on injuries, player form, team form, opposition, ground dimensions, and team balance. For the first time, I used relational databases and queried this. All with the help of, you guessed right, AI.

You may think I'm losing my mind. I totally understand.

To avoid this let me share my initial prompt/description. I have iterated repeatedly on this and fed back to the model final team selections for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.

Latterly, I have used the 2024 IPL as a data source to test the GPT.

The stats were basic to start, but the outputs improved as the GPT became more accepting of the direction I was pushing it in. Every second day, I asked the same question—this on IPL 2024—"Pick the best team possible from all IPL teams, with reasons for and against." I included individual players stats.

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When I asked the GPT to pick India's T20 World Cup squad, it did a pretty good job.

Here is India's squad for the T20 World Cup:

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj

Here is the Plum Miller (original naming—how bad!) Selector GPT.

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj

India opted for four spinners; Plum Miller selected three and included an extra batter, Rinku Singh. It picked KL Rahul instead of Sanju Samson and Shubman Gill over Shivam Dube—I believe this was the biggest mistake. I was surprised when it picked Rishabh Pant because of his lack of data over the last 12 months. *I did let Plum Miller know that MS Dhoni had retired from International cricket*

So, have I convinced you otherwise? Are messers Warner and Miller and the like irreplaceable? These all present interesting questions to me.

For now, I plan to continue watering the Plum Miller GPT—the great thing about this technology is they are emotionless and never tire of work; they keep returning for more! Unlike the players, you have to drop. 

More updates to follow.

From aspiring 12-year-olds who mimic his short, bounding approach and strive to borrow his natural coil and snap at the crease to middle-aged men playing club cricket in the wastelands of the North and the comfort of the South, all strive valiantly to find what Jimmy has, total control over their crafts. Plagiarism should be allowed and encouraged in Jimmy Anderson's case.

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In an agreeable collaboration, it's decided that Jimmy Anderson will play his last Test for England at Lords on 10 July. The opponent matters little, as it did in his first Test, at the same ground 21 years hence. Yes, 21 years ago, when Anderson was a mere slip of a genius, he now tips the scales at 41 with 700 wickets in the bank. Only Muthiah Muralidaran—once a teammate of Anderson's at Lancashire— and Shane Warne head him in Test wickets taken.

Interestingly, Warne is just eight wickets ahead; the West Indian batters will see plenty of Anderson come the Lord's Test!

Also worth noting is that the next best pace bowler is Stuart Broad on 604, who is four years Anderson's junior. Neither will be in Australia for the 2025-26 Ashes; Broad preferring the comforts of fatherhood, and Anderson believes the series, "felt like a stretch." Who can blame them?

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It's hard to believe now, but on Test debut, Anderson conceded 17 runs in his first over to little-known Zimbabwean Dion Ebrahim. At the time England captain, Nasser Hussain was the blameless architect, who later came clean—well, truth be known, Jimmy did bowl some leg stump halfies! However, the innocence of youth gave way quickly to a cricket IQ that rivalled any bowler in the game—Shane Warne aside.

I don’t know Jimmy Anderson, but we do share a Lancashire cap. His current, mine from a different era.

I've been looking for a list of Lancashire's capped players. Jimmy's cap would have come a lot sooner than mine in time-served. Actually, he was probably capped by England first. My own came five years after my Lancashire debut, in 1992.. Atherton, Fairbrother, Akram vintage.

He also robbed me of an off-stump in a county second-XI game.

I’d been shipped off to the retirement village at Durham CCC in 1997, and Jimmy was doing what all 16-year-olds do: playing cricket in order to miss school.

I genuinely shake—my head— while writing this: a 34-year-old stuttering to the end of a mediocre county career playing second XI cricket back at what was once my home ground, Old Trafford. And a 16-year-old with, presumably, no clue what lay in front of him.

Nevertheless, long story short, I had little knowledge of Jimmy Anderson then; he ran in much the same as does now, and bowled a full length trying to shape out swingers—sound familiar?

The first two didn't swing and went through mid-wicket at a decent clip—if I had a strength, this was it.

The third looked much the same as the first two; then, it started to curve. It was too late; I was aiming at the Ladbrokes advertising board again, fuck, the off-stump was bent back and took off toward second slip in a cart-wheeling motion. Me? I just kept walking with the shot, once again plunging into that vacuum of, "What the fuck happened there!"

Jimmy won't remember that ball. Why would he? I've been trying to forget it ever since!

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Off the bat, I am relieved Jimmy and co. have agreed to drop the curtain on an extraordinary international career. Even recently, in India, Anderson's bowling stood head and shoulders above the rest. Sadly, though, much of the commentary was centred on his age rather than his craft. It was time to depart the scene.

I follow U.S. sports. 

Tom Brady fell foul of the easy-to-play too-old tag at the end of his extraordinary career. Brady was still playing great football; even so, the punditry focused on the ageing Brady rather than the peerless Brady. Thankfully, Jimmy will dodge this—can you imagine the welcome he would receive from the Aussies?

In brief, what stood Jimmy Anderson aside from the rest?

This analysis is just my opinion on that question:

Bowling in the distinctive manner of Anderson, you're presented with two lateral options. There is a third, but this is more down to fortune. In truth, every bowler has these options, but Anderson's command of craft is what sets him apart.

Still, the first two: 

Out-swing or in-swing—these are the two lateral alternatives. And, this is traditional swing, shiny side on the outside half of the ball, not reverse swing.

Through diligent repetition (when not on the golf course) and a reliable genetic makeup, Anderson has maintained the remarkable feat of total control over these two variables throughout his career. The fascinating matrix for their effectiveness is how long the ball tracks a straight course before starting to curve (I being one of many victims). This skill is the primary key to his success and longevity.

The third is that 'lucky ball' that refuses to swing in or out, often fooling a batter only looking for lateral movement.

And, of course, there is a matter of controlling length, a variable that is even more critical than lateral movement. Again, Jimmy has mastered length control in unison with swing.

I'm sure to him, it seems similar to a night at the casino. More chips go out when the two components (line and length) talk to each other, and when one or both argue, which is rare, the wager is less. There is no doubt that Anderson has beaten the house more than the opposite. 

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It's bloody remarkable, isn't it? Jimmy Anderson is still honing his craft in his 42nd year. He's been a phenomenon and will be remembered that way. On his last away tour—India—when many younger bodies wilted, Jimmy ran in with all the same purpose as years gone. His spells were intelligent, economical masterclasses—good pace, brilliant grouping. He looked like a master craftsman, not a waning old-timer hanging on (I know that feeling). What comes next? He says, "Golf" I'm sure there will be pursuits of more substance.

For now, he will focus on ensuring he exits on a high, much like he entered. 

There can be no argument that England's bowling stocks have benefitted from his unobtrusive leadership and are now set to prosper from his departure. Opportunities will be there for the next crop of bowlers who must step into those ten-to-two shoes.

Regrets?

One stands out above the rest: tickling that short ball from Neil Wagner down the leg side, which gave New Zealand victory by a solitary run. Then, Jimmy has never been able to bat!

Long live the "Burnley Lara."